While Rajya Sabha Green Signals CAB, Assam Flares Up in Red

While incidents of arson and violent conflict between police and protestors engulfed Assam, the Rajya Sabha, after a long-heated debate, green signalled the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 with 125 ayes and 99 nays after Lok Sabha had passed it the previous day. The curfew-hit citizenry of Assam faced hauling rubber bullets and tear gas bombs and witnessed 3 deaths during police-fire.

Crux of the Matter

1. The roller coaster scene in the parliament witnessed the opposition slashing remarks of Nazi, Unconstitutional, Divisive, Anti-Secular, etc. for the bill. Whereas the ruling party defended the bill by pointing out the fundamental idea behind the bill: it aims to include religious minorities who have faced persecution in their respective nations.

2. Indefinite curfew was imposed in Assam’s Guwahati along with an internet shutdown in the region.

3. Soon protestors, flocking the streets of Assam, put on fire the house of Assam’s MLA, vehicles, tyres and wooden logs.

4. Police fought back the protestors by firing rubber bullets and tear gas bombs. Police were also required to use batons on protestors.

5. Prag News has reported that several CRPF men entered into the agency premise, harassed the workers, and blocked its functioning.

6. In the conflict between the protestors and the police, 3 people have died so far and several injuries have been reported.

Curiopedia

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (CAB) is a bill amending the Citizenship Act of 1955 to give a path to Indian citizenship to illegal migrants who are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, who entered India on or before 31 December 2014. It also seeks to relax the requirement of residence in India for citizenship by naturalisation from 11 years to 5 years for these migrants.The Union Cabinet cleared the Bill on 4 December 2019. It was passed by the Lok Sabha on 10 December 2019 and, subsequently, in the Rajya Sabha on 11 December 2019. The passage of the bill caused protests in India. More Info

Curated Coverage

1. Live Mint – Assam goes up in flames with violent anti-CAB protests; Modi govt pushes ahead with bill

2. India Today – Citizenship Amendment Bill set to become Act after clearing Rajya Sabha test

3. Summachar – Lok Sabha Clears The Controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill

4. First Post – Citizenship Amendment Bill protests Updates: 3 dead in Guwahati after police ‘opens fire’ on protesters; curfew imposed in Shillong

#Assam #CAA #CRPF